Liquid applicator



July 6, 1965 H.- L. KING LIQUID APPLIGATOR Filed March 15, 1963 li l il h United States Patent 3,192,552. LlQUlD APPLECATGR Harold Lawrence King, 21% Bommonwealth Ave, Mount Vernon, NY. Filed Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 265,423 Claims. (Cl. 15-537) This invention relates generally to the field of liquiddispensing applicators, and more particularly to devices of this type which are especially suited for use in the applications of liquids of quick-drying type. While in the disclosed embodiment of the invention there is illustrated a device especially suited for dispensing and spreading liquids containing a highly volatile solvent, it will be understood that similar embodiments may be used for application of other materials, such as cement, glues, paints, and the like. Devices of this general character are well-known in the art, and the invention lies in specific details of construction permitting more convenient loading or charging of the dispensed contents, as well as an improved dispensing action.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved liquid dispenser of the class described which may be conveniently reloaded at periodic intervals using a completely protected cartridge, which may be discarded after the contents have been used.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved liquid dispenser in which the above-mentioned replacement cartridge may be removed and positioned without the use of any tools, and by those possess in g only ordinary skills.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved liquid dispensing device in which the cost of fabrication may be of a relatively low order, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved liquid dispensing device having soft bristle brush means incorporated into the dispensing end thereof operating in conjunction with means for shaping the brush immediately prior to use.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of improved dispensing brush means having provision for cleaning caked or hardened material from the outer surface thereof at periodic intervals, without necessity of manually contacting the bristles.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of brush-type dispensing means for use with quick-drying liquid materials, having provision for maintaining the brush in a relatively wet condition when not in use, thereby preventing the drying of partially dispensed material upon the outer surface thereof, and maintaining the brush in condition for immediate use when desired.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that many of the parts thereof may be formed as synthetic resinous moldings, metal die-castings or drawings, thereby eliminating the necessity of machining relatively small and delicate parts to high commercial tolerances.

Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that the outer shell or housing element may be formed to include highly attractive surface ornamentation and the like, the same being effectively shielded from direct contact with the contents of the device, wherein the same may be reused many times when the device is loaded with fresh cartridges of dispensable material.

Another feature of the invention lies in the provision of two separately operated means for operating a single valving means serving to dispense liquid upon a brush element, wherein the valving means may be maintained in open condition during storage to maintain the brush wet at all times, and periodic feeding may take place as desired while the device is in use.

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These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the s verai views.

FEGURE 1 is an exploded View in elevation of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an assembled view in elevation showing the components comprising the brush element.

FIGURE 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment, with one of the cap elements removed and the device readied for operation.

FEGURE 4 is a similar longitudinal sectional view with the cap element replaced and the valving means maintained in partially open condition during storage.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 55 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a view in elevation as seen from the plane 66 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view corresponding to the righthand portion of FIGURE 4.

FEGURE 8 is a side elevational view as seen from the righthand portion of FIGURE 7.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character It comprises broadly: a housing element 11, a vial element 12, a brush element 13, a first cap element 14, and a second cap element 15.

The housing element 11 is formed from synthetic resinous material or metallic tubing, depending upon considerations of cost, and includes an outer tubular surface 17, an inner surface 18, a lower edge surface 19, and an upper edge surface 2% having first and second oppositely disposed slotted recesses 21 and 22, respectively. If de' sired, the outer surface 17 may be provided with suitable surface ornamentation, or may be plated with precious metal or other decorative coatings.

The vial element 12 is preferably former of suitable, low-cost, synthetic resinous materials having a degree of resiliency. It includes a first .or upper end 25 having a pair of annular projections 26 and 27 thereon for resiliently maintaining the second cap element 15 in engaged position. The projections 26 and 27 are mounted on the outer surface of resilient members 28 and 29, which form first and second slots 30 and 31, each having a shaped enlargement 32 and 33, respectively. Extending rightwardly as seen in FIGURES 1 and 4 in the drawing is a central tubular portion 34, the outer surface 35 of which is substantially the same diameter as the inner surface 18 of the housing element 11, sons to be slidably disposable therein. At the rightward end of the tubular portion 34- is a conical portion 36 leading to a narrow cylindrical portion 37, the outer surface 38 of which is provided with continuous threading 39 selectively engageable with the first cap element 14-. A second conical portion 4L leads to a domed terminal 41, having a slotted shaped opening 42 (see FIGURES 7 and 8) of an inwardly diverging bore 43.

The brush element 13 includes a hollow elongated ferrule 45, which may be of brass or synthetic resinous material, the lower end 46 of which is provided with a brush 47. The outer surface 48 of the ferrule 45 is crirnped at a point closer to the upper end 49 to form an enlargement engaging a coil spring 51 at a first terminal 52. The second terminal 53 thereof exerts pressure against a washer seal 54 which bears against a cylindrically-shaped plug member 55. The washer seal 54 may be of a variety of materials, depending upon the Patented July 6, 1965 liquid (not shown) being dispensed. \Vhere a wateror oil-type emulsion is used, the Washer seal 54 may be of felt, impregnated with a silicone oil which will permit the ingress of air Within the vial element 12, but prevent the flow of liquid outwardly thereof. The seal 54 includes a central opening through which the upper portion of the ferrule 45 passes, as best seen in FIGURE 3.

The plug 55 is preferably formed as a synthetic resinous molding of neoprene or the like, and includes first and second projections 56 and 57 engageable with the enlargements 32 and 33, respectively, at the end of the slots 30 and 31, respectively. The plug member 55 also includes an outer surface 58, the diameter of which corresponds to the inner surface 43 of the vial element 12.

'A first or lower end surface 5? thereofcontacts the spring 51, while a second or upper end surface 60 contacts an end surface 61 of a retainer member 62 having oppositely disposed projections 63 and 64 which resiliently engage the slotted recesses 21 and 22, respectively, of the housing element 11.

The second cap element is best seen in FIGURE 4, and may be of either synthetic resinous or metallic materials, depending upon considerations of cost. It includes an upper end wall member 65, a cylindrical wall member 66, and a recess forming a groove 68 which selectively engages the projections 26 and 27, as may also be seen in FIGURE 3.

The first cap element 14 is of generally elongated configuration, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 4, and is preferably of molded construction. It includes an outer cylindrical surface 70, a rounded end surface 71, and an upper edge surface 72 leading to a first inner bore 73, the end 74 of which is provided with threads 75 selectively engageable with the threads 39 on the outer surface 33 of the vial element 12. Extending rightwardly, as seen in FIGURE 4, from the threads 75 is a second inner or counterbore 76, which forms a recess for the brush 47 when the device is in capped non-operative condition.

From a consideration of FIGURES 7 and 8, it will be observed that when the first cap element 14 is positioned upon the device and tightened, the vial element 12 will move rightwardly as seen in FIGURE 4 with respect to the housing element 11 until further rightward movement is prevented by the engagement of the second conical portion 40 with the end of the counterbore 76. In this condition (FIGURE 7), the hermetic seal normally effected by the positioning of the lower end 46 of the ferrule 45 within the domed terminal 41 is broken, and liquid (not shown) disposed within the vial element may fiow under capillary action and/or gravity onto the brush 47. Since a hermetic seal is created around the brush within the counterbore 76, only a limited amount of such material flows, and the brush 47 is maintained in moistened condition, but shielded from the atmosphere, so that drying will not occur over a relatively extended period of time. This condition will also maintain the brush 47 ready for instant use with the removal of the first cap element 14.

After such removal, the end 46 of the ferrule 45 will seat itself within the terminal 41, this action causing movement of the slotted opening 42 with respect to the brush 47 to shape the bristles in conformance with the cross sectional shape of the opening 42 (see FIGURE 8). As more liquid is periodically required, pressure upon the second cap element 15 will again open the vial element 12, wherein the brush 47 may be fed a suitable amount of liquid. Release of the second cap element 15 enables the spring 51 to again close the opening 42 by the seating of the end 46 within the terminal 41, thereby preventing excess feeding.

When the contents of the vial element 12 are exhausted, the vial element and brush element may be removed as a unit by exerting pressure upon the terminal 41 while grasping the outer surface of the housing element 11. This will unseat the projections 63 and 64 from the slotted recesses 21 and 22, permitting withdrawal of the vial element and its subsequent replacement. The cap element 14 may also be removed to be positioned upon a second vial element 12, where the same is not formed sufficiently inexpensively to be expendable.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a housing element, a vial element slidably disposed within said housing, an elongated brush element slidably disposed within said vial element and fixed with respect to said housing element, said vial element having an inwardly diverging bore and a shaped opening at one end thereof, said brush element having bristles thereon at a corresponding end thereof, said bristles projecting through said opening and contacting said bore, first means on said elongated brush element limiting the rearward movement of said brush element so that a portion of the bristles are projecting outwardly from the opening of said vial element at all times, second means on the forward end of said brush element to limit forward movement of said brush element to limit the amount of compression which the brush bristles undergo, movement of said brush element relative to said vial element serving to shape said bristles to conform to the cross sectional shape of said bore and opening, to remove excess liquid and to provide a definite taper to the bristles by their contact with the bore.

2. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a hollow tubular housing element, a tubular vial element coaxially slidablydisposed within said housing element, an elongated brush element coaxially disposed within said vial element, and fixed with respect to said housing element; said vial element normally extending outwardly of said housing element through an opening at one end thereof, and said vial element having an opening in said outwardly extending end; said vial element having a threaded end thereon projecting through said opening in said housing element, a cap element having a bore therein having threads selectively engageable with said threads on said vial element, and a transversely positioned surface selectively contacting an abutting surface of said housing; whereby rotational movement of said cap element in threaded engagement upon said vial element may serve to move said vial element relative to said brush element.

3. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a hollow tubular housing element, a tubular vial element coaxially slidably disposed within said housing element, an elongated brush element coaxially disposed within said vial element, and fixed with respect to said housing element; said vial element normally extending outwardly of said housing element through an opening at one end thereof, and said vial element having an opening in said outwardly extending end; said vial element having a threaded end thereon projecting through said opening in said housing element, a cap element having a bore therein having threads selectively engageable with said threads on said vial element, and a transversely positioned surface selectively contacting an abutting surface of said housing; whereby rotational movement of said cap element in threaded engagement upon said vial element may serve to move said vial element relative to said brush element, said cap element including means for effecting an hermetic seal about said opening in said vial element.

4. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a hollow tubular housing element, a tubular vial element coaxially slidably disposed within said housing element, an elongated brush element coaxially disposed within said vial element, and fixed with respect to said housing element; said vial clement normally extending outwardly of said housing element through an opening at one end thereof,

and said vial element having an opening in said outwardly extending end; said vial element having a threaded end thereon projecting through said opening in said housing element, a cap element having a bore therein having threads selectively engageable with said threads on said vial element, and a transversely positioned surface selectively contacting an abutting surface of said housing; whereby rotational movement of said cap element in threaded engagement upon said vial element may serve to move said vial element relative to said brush element; and means on an opposite end of said vial element for selective movement of said vial element with respect to said brush element.

5. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a hollow tubular housing element, a tubular vial element coaxially slidably disposed within said housing element, an elongated brush element coaxially disposed within said vial element, and fixed with respect to said housing element; said vial ele ment normally extending outwardly of said housing element through an opening at one end thereof, and said vial element having an opening in said outwardly extending end; said vial element having a threaded end thereon projecting through said opening in said housing element, a cap element having a bore therein having threads selectively engageable with said threads on said vial element, and a transversely positioned surface selectively contacting an abutting surface of said housing; whereby rotational movement of said cap element in threaded engagement upon said vial eiement may serve to move said vial element relative to said brush element, said cap element including means for effecting an hermetic seal about said opening in said vial element; and means on an opposite end of said vial element for selective movement of said vial element with respect to said brush element Referenses Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LIQUID DISPENSER, COMPRISING: A HOUSING ELEMENT, A VIAL ELEMENT SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, AN ELONGATED BRUSH ELEMENT SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID VIAL ELEMENT AND FIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING ELEMENT, SAID VIAL ELEMENT HAVING AN INWARDLY DIVERGING BORE AND A SHAPED OPENING AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID BRUSH ELEMENT HAVING BRISTLES THEREON AT A CORRESPONDING END THEREOF, SAID BRISTLES PROJECTING THROUGH SAID OPENING AND CONTACTING SAID BORE, FIRST MEANS ON SAID ELONGATED BRUSH ELEMENT LIMITING THE REARWARD MOVEMENE OF SAID BRUSH ELEMENT SO THAT A PORTION OF THE BRISTLES ARE PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE OPENING OF SAID VIAL ELEMENT AT ALL TIMES, SECOND MEANS ON THE FORWARD END OF SAID BRUSH ELEMENT TO LIMIT FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID BRUSH ELEMENT TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF COMPRESSION WHICH THE BRUSH BRISTLES UNDERGO, MOVEMENT OF SAID BRUSH ELEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID VIAL ELEMENT SERVING TO SHAPE SAID BRISTLES TO CONFORM TO THE CROSS SECTIONAL SHAPE OF SAID BORE AND OPENING, TO REMOVE EXCESS LIQUID AND TO PROVIDE A DEFINITE TAPER TO THE BRISTLES BY THEIR CONTACT WITH THE BORE. 